Laparoscopic castration of cryptorchid horses: 20 cases.

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery provides a direct means of assessing intraabdominal
testes in horses and offers significant advantages over a laparotomy approach
under a general anaesthetic.. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe our
experience with laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses. Methods: 22
horses aged 1,5 years in mean, of different breeds and weight were admitted for
laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy between May 2006 and April 2008. The retained testicle
was the left in 7 horses, the right in 9, in 6 cases both testes were retained. Horses were
restrained in a set of stocks and sedated with detomidine HCl in infusion. After surgical
preparation of the paralumbar fossa region ipselateral to the retained testis, abdominal
insufflation was initiated and maintained using a CO2 pump. After cannula and
laparoscope placement the retained testis was identified and grasped. A ligature of 0
polydioxanone suture was napplied to encircle the mesorchium, mesoductus, deferens,
and the caudal epididymal ligament. After cutting the spermatic cord, the testis was
removed via a flank incision. When present, the descended testis was removed using a
standard open standing technique. Results: No surgical or postoperative complications
were observed. The median surgical time of procedures was 63 minutes. Discussion and
conclusions: Laparoscopy allowed excellent visualization of the structures of the vaginal
ring and facilitated removal of the abdominally located testis. The internal and external
inguinal rings were not invaded, thus the chance of serious complications that may result
during open cryptorchidectomy procedures was minimized. The standing laparoscopic
approach to remove the retained testis is easily performed.